Unified data packet for encapsulating data packets having diverse formats

A method for transmitting data, comprising:

• encapsulating data in a payload section of a frame;
• setting, responsive to the data, a segment type field and a final payload count valid field of a header section of the frame, the final payload count valid field indicating whether the payload section includes a final payload count field, and in an event the payload section includes a final payload count field, setting the final payload count field to indicate an amount of data in the payload section;
• and
• transmitting the frame to a communications system.

A data structure embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

• a first payload section including a first portion of data;
• a second payload section including a second portion of the data;
• a first header section associated with the first payload section and including a first segment type field and a first final payload count valid field, the first segment type and final payload count valid fields being set responsive to the data of the first payload section, the first final payload count valid field indicating whether the first payload section includes a first final payload count field, and any first final payload count field indicating an amount of data in the first payload section;
• and
• a second header section associated with the second payload section and including a second segment type field and a second final payload count valid field, the second segment type and final payload count valid fields being set responsive to the data of the second payload section, the second final payload count valid field indicating whether the second payload section includes a second final payload count field, and any second final payload count field indicating an amount of data in the second payload section.